Auckland, Oct 14 NZPA - A high profile criminal lawyer representing a woman at the centre of a custody row, who is also facing drugs charges, had a physical confrontation with the media outside Auckland District Court today.

14 October 2008 - New Zealand firms that fail to mitigate the pass-through costs imposed by the price of carbon will struggle to survive in the potentially hostile environment brought about by the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZETS).

14 October 2008 - In light of yesterday's announcement by the prime minister that the Labour party proposes to phase out parental income testing on student allowances, the Association of University Staff (AUS) warns that the government must also act to increase funding to the university sector.

14 OCTOBER 2008 - A shock poll showing National leading Labour by just three points has significantly boosted Labour's chances of leading the next government, according to iPredict traders.

14 OCTOBER 2008 - For one night only, Auckland Zoo is offering a unique dining experience in its rainforest to raise funds to help Sumatran orang utans in the wild - a species now critically endangered due to the rapid growth of palm oil plantations.

Wellington, Oct 14 NZPA - One of the men charged with killing a South Korean backpacker on the West Coast used a German phrase meaning "no blood" as the young man was choked to death, a court was told yesterday.

Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - A Singaporean couple facing dozens of credit card fraud charges plan to appeal a judge's refusal to grant them bail after more than a month in custody.

Auckland, Oct 13 NZPA - An Auckland real estate agent accused of kidnapping five-year-old Chinese girl Cina Ma will not know until the middle of next year whether he will have to stand trial.

Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - The man who has admitted sending Prime Minister Helen Clark an envelope containing white powder will be sentenced on Guy Fawke's Day.

Farmer Douglas Hancock, 61, appeared in Hawera District Court today for sentencing on a charge on making criminal threats.

13 OCT 2008 - Many tertiary students are today celebrating Helen Clark's announcement that Labour will deliver a universal living allowance for all full time students in 3 years time.